Trailer hitch



P. RUB, JR

Aug. 27, 1935.

TRAILER HITGH Filed Aoct. 12, 1954 Patented Aug. 27, 1935" infinita BITCH 1 Philip Rnb, Jr., Wishek, N. Dak. Application october 12, 1.934, serial No. 748,118`

- iciaim. (o1. 28o-33.55)

. -This invention aims to provide novel rmeans 4for attaching -a trailer to` an automobile, the construction being such that as the auto ,turns laterally, a longitudinalmovementwill be im#-y 5 parted to the radius rod of the trailer,l so that the wheels of the trailer will be turned laterally to aid in rounding a curve.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for connecting together the forward and rear members of the lever.

Another' object of the inventionis to supply a device of the class described provided with strong and novel means whereby the parts of the lever may have relative hinged movement with respect to each other.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described 'and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in section. v

The numeral l designates the front axle of a trailer. The numeral 2 marks the radius rod ofthe trailer, the radius rod being connected to the front wheels of the trailer, in a well-known manner, to impart lateral inclination to the forl ward wheels of the trailer.

A first anchor is provided, and is denoted generally by the numeral 3.l The anchor 3 comprises a plate 4 located on top of the radius rod 2, and U-bolts 5, extended around the radius rod 2 and mounted at their upper ends in the plate 4 of the anchor 3. Y

The device comprises a second anchor which is denoted generally by the numeral B. The anchor 6 comprises a plate or bracket l located on top of the forward axle I of the trailer, and a plate 8 is located underneath the forward axle, the plates 'I and 8 being connected by securing elements 9, such as bolts, the forward or front axle I of the trailer fitting closely between the bolts e, as Fig. 2 will show. On the plate .1. of

the second anchor S, near to the forward edge 'thereof is located a vertically offset bracket IIL The ends of the bracket I5 are connected tothe plate 'lby securing devices II of any .desired 5 construction.

rIhe numeral I2 marks a lever, whichk is a composite structure.

The lever I2 comprises a forward member I4 and a rear member. 1I5. The

rear member I5 of the lever I2 extends under the brackety l5, between the bracket II) and the plate l'. a bolt i6, connects th the rear member I5 bracket lll and with the plate 1.

of the rear member I A' vertical fulcrum element, such. as

e intermediate Vportion of of the lever I2 with the The rear end 5'of the lever `I2 is connected to the plate 4 of the anchor 3 onthe radius rod 2 by a pivot element I1.

At its forward end, the rear member I5 of the lever I2 is supplied w ith a fork I8 There are 20 sockets I5 on the forward extremities of the fork The forward member Il of `the lever I2 is supplied on its rear endwith a socket 36, fitting closely between the sockets I9 of the fork` I8.

The numeral 223 designates a U-shaped rear brace. The intermediate portion of the brace 2U is disposed ontop of t lever I2, inadvance of the anchor 6.

he rear member I5 ofthe The side'V arms of the rear brace 2S slant downwardly 'and forwardly, so that sockets 22 on the forward extremities of the brace- 26 are brought in line with the sockets i9 on the fork IB of the rear member i5 ofthe lever I2.

to the' rear memberl meral 23 designatesia The intermediate portion ofv the brace 20 is connected by a securngrdevice 2I of the lever I2, The nu- U-shaped forward bracen The intermediate portion of the forward brace 23 isloeated on top of the lever l2.

wardly and rearwardly forward member I4 of the At its rear end, the brace 23 has sockets 25. The side arms of the member 23 slant down- 40 ,so that the sockets 25 are 7 brought into line with the sockets 22 on the brace 2G. A securing device 24 connects the intermediate portion of the brace'23 withY Athe forward member I4 of the lever I2.

A hinge member 26, i5

parts I4 and l5 can have vertical swinging-move# ment with respect to each other.y The parts 23-29-48-25 form a secure and strong hinge connection vbetween the parts I4 lever I2.

Intermediate its end and I5'of the s, the forward member I4 '55 .The forward end ofthe brace 29 is connected to the member I4 of the lever I 2 by a securing device 30. The rear end of the brace 29 is connected to the hind partof the member I4 of the lever I2, and to the brace 23, by the securing device 24. An offset bracket 3| is mounted on the forward part ofthe memberlslightly in advance of the anglershown at 28 and is connected to the forward part of the member I4 by a securing element 32. The bracket 3i and the forward part of the member I4 are supplied with vertically alined holes 33. The bracket 3| is used to carry an evener (not shown), should it be` desired to pull the trailer by horse power. forward end of the part I of the lever I2, to be used in conjunction with an underlying bracket 462,v for attaching the 4device lto any convenient part of thestowing auto.

-In practical operatiornthe forward member I4 ofthe lever I2 isattaclied to thev auto or other- .vehicle which is to do the towing. As the vehicle turns laterally, the lever I2 swings laterally or horizontally on its fulcrurn I6, and alongitudinal'movement is imparted to the radiusrod 2, the wheels (not shown) of the trailer being inclined laterally, accordingly. Moreover, owing to the presence .of the hinge member 26 and associated parts, the lever I2 can yield or swing vertically,.intermediate its ends, the parts I4 and I5 There is an opening 34 in theA having relative vertical movement with respect to each other, on the hinge member 26. This facilitates the drawing of the trailer over rough or uneven ground.

The device is simple in construction and is capable of being attached to any sort of car or to any properly constructed trailer.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, a lever comprising a straight rear member provided at its forward end with a fork having sockets, the lever including a forward member provided at its rear end with a socket located between the sockets of the fork, a rear U-shaped brace secured in its intermediate portion to the rear member of the lever, the side arms of the brace being located outwardly of the fork and having sockets, a. forward U-shaped brace provided at its rear end with sockets located outwardly of the sockets of the rear brace, means for securing the forward brace to the forward member of the lever, a hinge element extending through all of the sockets, a bracket, means for securing the bracket to a vehicle axle, means for fulcruming the rear member of the lever on the bracket at a point in front of the axle, and means on the rear end of the rear member of the lever for connecting the rear member to a radius rod, directly and pivotally, at a point to the rear of the bracket and the axle that carries it.

v PHILIP RUB, J R. 

